Timing lamp lighter



Aug. 19, 1930. w SALMQN 1,773,121

TIMING LAMP LIGHTER Filed Dec. 28, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 4 VIM-II? '7 13 lfip 9 m m INVENTOR:

' y W/Mnm,

A TTORNEY.

Aug. 19, 1930. G. w. SALMON 1,773,121 TIMING LAMP LIGHTER Filed Dec,. 28, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 22 INVENTOR:

A TTORNE Y.

Patented Aug. 19, 1930 PATENT OFFICE enema w. SALMON,

F COLUMBUS, OH IO TIMING LAMP LIGHTER Application filed December 28, 1925. Serial No. 78,011.

This invention relates toelectro-mechanical means for lighting or to switch-on electrical lamps at certain times, the invention having reference more particularly to apparatus for I causing motor-vehicle lamps to become active at certain times as may be required.

An object of the invention is to provide improved means for closing or opening electrical circuits which shall be of simple construction, and adapted for various purposes where timed control of electrical current is required.

Another object is to provide apparatus for automatically starting the operation of 1 motor-vehicle lamps at certain hours of the evening in the absence of an operator or attendant.

A further object is to provide an improved timed electrical switch apparatus which shall 2 be of such construction as to permit the use of a common type of clock mechanism of inexpensive construction, which may be slightly modified at small cost for the purposes of the invention. 7 I

A still further and important object of the invention is to provide a timed lamp lighter that shall be dependable to switch on electrical motor-vehicle lamps that may be required by law to be lighted during the night time, especially on parked cars, so that the owners may avoid being penalized for failure to light the lamps because of absence froma car upon approach of darkness, which lamp lighter shall be reliable, durable and economical in.

use.

With the above-mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in anovel electrical switch apparatus and controlling means in association with mechanism of the alarm-clock type; the invention consisting also in the novel parts and combinations and arrangements of parts as hereinafter particularly described and further distinctly and definitely claimed.

Referring to the drawings,-Figure 1 1s a diagrammatic view of the invention illustrating its application to an automobile and the usual tail-lamp thereof; Fig. 2 is a top plan of the principal part of the lamp lighter, on an enlarged scale and partially'broken away, showing its application to the instrument board of the automobile which is shown in section; Fig. 8 is a front elevation of Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation of clock gearing of well-known construction; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section and top plan of the parts necessary to timing operations of the switch apparatus; Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of parts of the timing apparatus appearing in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of parts appearing in Fig. 4; Fig. 8 is a rear elevation of the clock-mechanism and the improved electrical switch to be controlled thereby; Fig. 9-is a fragmentary vertical sectional elevation showing particularly the means for controlling the electrical switch; Fig. 10 is a rear fragmentary sectional elevation showing the switch and principal parts of the controlling apparatus therefor; Fig. 70 11 is a fragmentary sectional detail of the electrical switch as preferably constructed; and Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional detail of the switch slightly modified.

Similar reference characters in the differ ent figures of the drawings indicate corresponding elements or features of construction herein referred to indetail.

As illustrating the invention in connection with signals a motor-vehicle tail-lamp casing having an electric bulb lamp 2 is shown, to be supplied with electric current from a suitable attery or electrical generator 3 in connection with a motor-vehicle having an instrument board 4; which is provided with a hinge 5 on its front. The lighter has a suitable casing which preferably is similar to an alarm-clock casing comprising a circular shell 6 that is secured to the hinge 5 to permit the back edge of the shell to be seated against the front of the instrument board, the latter being provided with a latch pin 7 which normally is engaged by a latch 8 with which the shell 6 is provided. The casing has a back plate 9 secured to the inner side of the shell at a suitable distance from its back edge. Suitable clock mechanism is mounted in a frame comprising a back plate 10 and a front plate 11 secured to a suitable number of studs 12. Commonly the forward portion of the shell has a clock dial 13 therein and a glass plate let forward of the dial, the dial having the conventional numerals 15 thereon to dcnote hours. The clock dial has also a small indictor dial 16 thereon designed to indicate the hour on which an alarm may be given.

The timed switching apparatus is mounted in the casing and may be variously constructed but preferably a number of parts of the clock-works are utilized, one of the parts comprising a shaft 17 rotatively mounted in the clock frame and provided with a key 18 for turning the shaft in one direction. For the purpose of the invention an arm 19 is rigidly secured to the shaft 17 adjacent to the back plate 10, the arm preferably being a non-conductor of electricity and may be swung down towards one of the studs 12 or to a stop rod or pin 20 secured to the clock frame; or the arm may be swung around a suitable distance away from the stop device. A binding post 21 is arranged in a suitable opening in the shell 6 at a suitable point and has a. head 22 on its inner end and an insulating bushing 23 whereby to electr cally insulate the post from the shell. A circuit wire 24- is connected to the post and also with the signal lamp 2 in any suitable manner. An elastic switch plate 25 is arranged within the shell so that a portion thereof shall be opposite to the head or contact point 22 and is supported by the shell 6, preferably by means of a binding post 26 arranged in a suitable opening in the shell and having a head 27 on its inner end and also an insulator 23'. A circuit wire 28 is connected with the post 26 and with the battery or generator 3, another circuit wire 29 being connected with the battery and the signal lamp 2, in the preferred arrangement. The switch plate 25 has a spring finger 30 that is curved so as to present a convex face towards the shaft 17 to be en gaged by the arm 19 when swung around from the stop device 20, to push the switch plate over to the contact point 22. A clock spring 31 is arranged on the shaft 17 as in common practice and connected at its inner end to the shaft, the outer end of the spring being anchored to the clock frame. A ratchet wheel 32 is secured to the shaft 17 and is engaged by a pawl 33 carried by a tooth wheel 34 arranged to rotate on the shaft and in mesh with a pinion 35 secured to a gear wheel 36 and a shaft 37. The wheel 36 and the arm 19 operate on one and the same plane so that the arm when moved into contact with the finger 30 comes into contact with the teeth of the wheel 36 and acts as a brake to stop rotation of the wheel, the wheel acting as a stop for the arm. The wheel 36 is in mesh with the pinion 38 secured to a shaft 39 having a vibrator wheel 40 secured thereto. The shafts are rotatably supported by the clock frame which supports also a rock-shaft ell adjacent to the wheel 1O provided with a vibrator lever 42 to be actuated by the wheel 4L0. A rod 43 is secured to the rock-shaft and extends under and beyond the shaft 39 to be engaged by a wedge it on the side of a. laterally elastic arm el-5 which is secured to the front frame plate 11. The usual alarm apparatus includes a shaft 46 that extends through the clock frame and the dial and has a pointer 47 on its front end opposite to the dial 16, a collar 18 being secured to the shaft and having a finger e9 thereon to engage the face of a counterbored hub 50 arranged to rotate on the shaft and being pressed by the arm against the finger, the face of the hub having a recess 51 therein into which the finger may be received to permit the arm to withdraw the wedge at from the rod 43 as atripping device to release the gearing which is actuated by the spring 31. The hub has a gear wheel 52 thereon to be suitably driven by con ventional or other suitable clock-works which may comprise a stud 53 secured to the front frame plate 11, a pinion 5% on the stud meshing with the wheel 52, a gear wheel 55 secured to the pinion, the pinion meshing with the gear wheel 56, and a pinion 57 meshing with the wheel 55. A setting shaft 58 is centrally arranged in the clock frame and the pinion 57 is secured thereto, and the wheel 56 is fixed on a hub 50 rotatable on the shaft, an hour-hand 60 being connected to the hub, a l'l'lllllltQ-llfllltl 61 being connected to the shaft. The shaft 58 has a pinion 62 thereon for turning the shaft, the pinion being in connection with a gear wheel 63 conventionally arranged on a shaft 64: supported by the frame plates and provided with a main spring (35 for actuating the clock-works as the cus tom. the most prominent parts of the clockworks comprising gear wheels 66. 67, 68, the usual escapement 69 and the balance wheel 70, mention of other well-known parts here being deemed unnecessary to an understanding of the invention.

As slightly modified the switch plate 25 may be secured to and electrically connected with the casing shell 6 by means of a rivet 71, when desired that the electric current be grounded through the clock casing and the instrument board which may be metallic.

It should be understood that other modifications may be made, as for instance the arm 19 may be stopped against a projection 72 with which the finger 30 on the switch plate may be provided. instead of permitting the arm to be stopped against the gear wheel 36. Also, the action of the spring 31 may be otherwise restrained and released by various devices; but the train of gearing usually provided for causing audible signals here illustrated is preferred, the usual alarm bell and clapper being omitted as unnecessary to the present invention, although permissible if desired.

In practical use a motor-vehicle equipped with the lamp lighter may be parked or left standing on a street or road by its owner who may not have occasion to return to it until after darkness or evening sets in. Before leaving the motor-vehicle the owner or operator releases the casing by manipulation of the latch 8 and swings the casing on its hinge to gain access to the winding and setting shafts, the shaft 64 being turned to Wind the clock, the shaft 46 being turned to bring the pointer 47 to the proper position to indicate the hour when the signal lamps should be lighted. The spring 31 should always be slightly under tension and the arm 19 disconnected from the switch when lights are not needed, the arm being swung around towards or to the stop provided for it and held in place by the devices described which are restrained from action by the locked rod 43 and the vibrator arm 12 in connection with the wheel 40. Having properly set the apparatus for action the casing is swung back to its normal position and latched or may be locked to the instrument board. At the hour determined upon for lighting the lamps the hub 50 becomes turned until the projection 49 may be received into the recess 51, permitting the arm 45 to push the hub outward and withdraw the wedge from the rod 43, the spring 31 then acting to move the arm 19 around into contact with the finger 30 which causes the switch plate 25 to be forced into contact with the terminal 22, the vibrator and intermediate gearing acting as a governor to prevent sudden thrusting action of the spring and will be gradually stopped when the arm 19 comes into contact with the wheel 36, or if the arm is otherwise stopped so as to oppose the action of the spring. The switch remains closed so as to insure supply of current to the signal lamp or lamps until the operator again turns the shaft 17 whereby the controlling arm 19 is moved away from the electrical switch which automatically breaks the conducting circuit.

l/Vhat is claimed as new is:

1. An electric switch comprising in com bination a casing provided with a hinge on one side and a latch on the opposite side thereof, a frame supported in the casing, a binding post supported by the casing on its outer side adjacent to said hinge and having an electrical terminal within the casing, a rotary driving shaft mounted in the frame,a ratchet wheel secured to the shaft, a motor spring connected to the frame and to the shaft, a driving gear wheel rotatable on the shaft, a pawl carried by the driving gear wheel in connection with the ratchet wheel, a rotary transmission shaft supported in the frame, a pinion fixed to the transmission shaft in mesh with the driving gear wheel, a transmission gear wheel secured to the transmission shaft, a controlling arm secured to the driving shaft opposite to the transmission gear wheel to swing into frictional contact therewith to brake and stop the wheel upon action of the spring, means controlled by the arm to effect electrical connection with the circuit terminal, and a device for manually turning the driving shaft to simultaneously Wind the spring and move the arm away from the transmission gear Wheel and to break the electrical connection.

2. In an electric switch, the combination with a casing, a rotary shaft, and a gear wheel rotatable in proximity to the shaft to be driven by means of the shaft, of a binding post supported by the casing, an elastic switch plate supported by the casing and extending opposite to the inner end of said post, the switch plate having a spring fin er facing towards said shaft, and an arm Xedly se cured to said shaft and swinging in operation into contact with said finger and onward into contact with said gear wheel for simultaneously stopping the arm and the wheel.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature on the 24th day of December, 1925.

GEORGE W. SALMON.

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